Read Online The Mystery of the Grinning Gargoyle by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online Page B

Gargoyle Gyro,” Izzy said. “You see, I was worried that after my father retired, nobody would come to this restaurant. Because I’m an artist, I have always loved the gargoyles on the old library. One day I did an online search to learn more about those grinning gargoyles, and I found an old newspaper article about the spooky gargoyle legend. It gave me the idea for the Gargoyle Gyro, as well as a way to get everyone talking about gargoyles.”

    â€œThat’s when you checked out the book on papier-mâché,” said Jessie, “a month ago.”
    â€œI might be an artist,” Izzy said, “but I’d never made anything out of papier-mâché before. The book taught me how to create the fake gargoyle I hung from the top floor of the library.”
    â€œYour gargoyle looks really good,” said Violet, patting the papier-mâché creature. “It looks just like the real statues. But it also scared people, and that wasn’t very nice.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Izzy said. “I didn’t mean to scare anyone.”
    â€œThere’s someone you should really apologize to,” said Jessie, motioning to Annabel. “It was Annabel’s window that you hung the gargoyle in front of last night, and it really scared her.”
    â€œOh, dear,” said Izzy. “I was trying to put the gargoyle in front of your window, Alden children. I already knew you weren’t scared of the gargoyles, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt.”
    â€œWe were staying in 4A, right next door to Annabel’s room in 4B,” Henry said.
    â€œI am so sorry, Annabel,” said Izzy. “How can I make it up to you?”
    â€œIt’s okay, Izzy,” Annabel smiled. “There is one thing you can do, though—an interview for this latest online video. It’ll be a hit with my fans and it’ll bring more business to Goldwin Gyros! Are you camera shy?”

CHAPTER 10
    The Big Screen at the Big Game
    The Goldwin Bears got off to a good start, even though Number 44 was sitting on the bench and hadn’t played.
    The clock was running down before halftime as Benny Alden returned to the red metal bleacher he’d been sitting on. In his arms he carried a stack of stadium snacks to share with his siblings.
    Henry thanked Benny for the hot dog with extra mustard.
    Jessie smiled and took a bite of her salty soft pretzel.
    Violet wiped her mouth after taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
    And Benny took turns putting popcorn and peanuts into his mouth.
    Just then, the crowd began to cheer. From the bench where the Goldwin Bears were sitting a familiar player stood up and started to trot onto the field.
    â€œGo, Number 44!” Benny cheered.
    The Goldwin Bears lined up to run their next play. The play began, with players of both teams scurrying across the grass of Goldwin Coliseum.
    The Bears’ quarterback got the ball and took a step backward, staring down the field. He looked right. Then he looked left. Would he find someone who could catch the football?
    And then, just like the play Coach Woods had drawn on the chalkboard at the library, and just like the play Benny had run on the field the day before, Number 44 streaked down the field. His ankle seemed to be better, allowing him to run fast across the grass.
    The quarterback reared back and threw the football.
    Up, up, up into the air went the ball.
    Then down, down, down it came.
    Number 44 leaped into the air, too, stretching out his arms and diving for the football.
    It looked like the quarterback might have thrown the ball too far. Or maybe Number 44 wasn’t able to run quite as fast as he needed to.
    The ball looked like it would fall just out of the reach of the star player’s outstretched fingertips.
    And then those fingertips stretched just a little bit further, and Number 44 caught the ball, rolling into the end zone, just as the clock on the big screen reached